28 SPANISH FRONT
between these upheavals the Spanish people attempted
again and again to assert themselves in order to relieve their
Eves of the burden of despotism. In the Parliament of
1854 a definitely Republican movement publicly declared
itself* It was not widespread, but it grew steadily, and in
1868 it had become important—so important that it was the
Radical tendency even amongst the Monarchists. There
were two Monarchist parties: those who favoured the
accession of the queen's son ; and the Carlists. When
a constituent Cortes was assembled in 1869, it decided in
favour of a Monarchy. So greatly were even the Spanish
Monarchists divided in opinion amongst themselves that
they could not make up their minds who should be the
king, until finally, in 1870, Amadeo of Savoy, the second
son of Victor Emmanuel EL, was elected. The so-called
" reign " of Amadeo lasted until 1873. It was a scandalous
episode, a piece of out-and-out jobbery which disgusted the
people. On the I2th of February Amadeo laid down his
uneasy and thankless crown. This man had never any love
for the country of his adoption, nor had he any real friends
in Spain. He quitted the country amid the jibes of his
former subjects. He had made one profound mistake by
threatening to place severe checks on the influence of the
clergy. He was probably quite sincere in his desire for
Liberal reforms, decentralization, and popular government.
But the king of Spain who quarrelled with the Church
never lasted long. Amadeo thought that by being king with
a parliamentary majority he could introduce certain meas-
ures of liberty. However, so far was he removed from
the realities of life that he believed that this parliamentary
majority represented the feelings of the people, whereas
the man in the street could have informed him that the
parliamentary majority had been achieved by methods